Thursday’s Thrifty Tips: What do you use to clean?
Anyone who knows me, knows I like to use vinegar to clean. It’s cheaper and it’s healthier - plus it cleans as good as the chemicals. For light general cleaning, I’ll choose vinegar over “blue bubbles” - as my five year old calls it - any time. I do use regular laundry detergent for my wash though I’ve been known to add vinegar to the mix for an extra boost and static cling removal. I also use store bought dish detergent as I feel it gets the grease out better than vinegar. I don’t usually have a favorite brand, I find many of the on-sale or no-name brands work just as well as the most expensive products.There are some great organic cleaners too - I like the “Holy Cow” family products.( Expect a full review of them in the next few days.) They’re inexpensive and because some of the products are concentrated, they save money. Generally I don’t use bleach or harsh chemicals because they’re expensive, unhealthy and unnecessary. Besides, they’re bad for my well and septic tank. I do sometimes use bleach to wash my floors though.
So that’s me. I try to find healthy, inexpensive alternatives to harsh, pollutant chemicals though sometimes I have no choice but to purchase a more expensive cleaner if it means saving a piece or furniture or the carpet rather than throwing it out. What do you use to clean? Do you prefer a frugal alternative such as vinegar, or is the convenience of blue bubbles more to your liking?
Discuss…
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POSTED IN: Around the House, General
8 opinions for Thursday’s Thrifty Tips: What do you use to clean?
the aesthetic onion
Sep 6, 2007 at 4:05 pm
What do you clean with vinegar?
marye
Sep 6, 2007 at 4:15 pm
well…For cleanser I use part baking soda part borax and a couple of drops of esential oil..(I like tangerine and rose otto)
For windows it is water/alcohol/vinegar
For all purpose it is Dr Bronners Sal
And so on. :)
Laurel
Sep 7, 2007 at 4:42 am
Did you know you can use the water from boiling potatoes to wash the floor? It works really well. Don’t ask me why.
Tami
Sep 7, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I would love to have your ‘how-to’ on cleaning with vinegar. (What gets cleaned with vinegar and cleaning recipes.)
Susanna a.k.a. Cheap Like Me
Sep 7, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I use baking soda a lot (scrub the bathtub, sink, toilet) and sometimes vinegar, although I have a really hard time with the smell! I have pretty much given up conventional cleaning products. I’m now making my own laundry detergent (bar laundry soap, borax, washing soda) and dishwasher soap (1/2 cup borax, 1/2 cup washing soda, couple of scoops of lemonade mix). So far, all is well — if only I could find time to sweep the floor as often as it needs …
Jennifer
Sep 9, 2007 at 1:02 am
The only thing I clean with vinegar is the coffee pot and even that makes me gag. Everyone who knows me knows I hate vinegar. Yuck. But I do clean with natural stuff; baking soda, lavender, lemons, a few green pre-made cleaners, pure natural soap, and other essential oils. Sometimes just plain old hot water. Vinegar is good I just hate it.
kristin
Sep 10, 2007 at 2:46 am
I love to make my own cleaning supplies. 3 parts water, 1/2 part rubbing alcohol, 1/2 part nonsudsing ammonia, one part vinegar. You can vary the amount of ammonia to less though, if you find it too strong. This is the basic ingredient of a cleaner called “Cinch!”. Borax is a fine cleanser for burnt on food on pots and pans. It gets the stuff right out.
SAHMmy Says
Sep 10, 2007 at 9:14 am
Dawn, Ajax, 409 (the lemon-scented Antibacterial Kitchen variety–less fumes), vinegar (only for hard water and deodorizing), Oxiclean, Windex (didn’t care for the Holy Cow version), Barkeeper’s Friend. And lots of elbow grease!
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